Despite widespread perceptions of obsolescence, magnetic tape continues to be used extensively for digital storage, as demonstrated by shipment growth of 3.14% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Magnetic Tape Data
Increased Demand
HPE, IBM and Quantum have seen significant increases in demand on magnetic tapes of the Linear Tape-Open standard, reaching 152.9 exabytes in 2023. This growth is partly due to the rapid accumulation of data and the increased needs of enterprises to scale storage infrastructure. The boom in artificial intelligence has certainly made a significant contribution to the increase in data volumes and, accordingly, the demand for magnetic tapes.
Advantages of Magnetic Tape
Despite the emergence of new technologies over the past three decades, magnetic tape still remains in demand due to a number of advantages. It has a huge capacity and can easily be switched to offline mode. Contrary to everyday experience, modern magnetic tapes are highly durable and durable, remaining operational for decades.
For archiving and backup purposes, tape is often a more cost-effective solution than disk storage. Tape libraries can run in cold mode, providing protection against malware. In addition, studies have shown that magnetic tapes have a lower environmental impact than hard drives and solid-state drives.
Limitations of Magnetic Tapes
The main disadvantage of magnetic tapes is their limited suitability for data that needs to be accessed frequently. Access to tape storage is not fast, and frequent access accelerates tape wear.
However, the use of magnetic tape is relatively small compared to other media. In the third quarter of 2024 alone, Seagate shipped 99 exabytes of hard drives, just one of many manufacturers.
Glossary
- HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise) is an American company that produces servers, storage systems and IT services.
- IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) is an American multinational company, one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of hardware, software, and IT services.
- Quantum is an American company specializing in storage systems and data management software.
- Linear Tape-Open (LTO) is an open standard for magnetic tape and data recording formats developed by IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Seagate Technology.
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Discussion of the topic – The wonders of magnetic tape: 152.9 exabytes of data on tape in 2023
Despite widespread belief that magnetic tape is becoming obsolete, Linear Tape-Open manufacturers shipped a record 152.9 exabytes of storage tape in 2023, up 3.14% from last year.
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Ольга
I didn't know magnetic tapes were still in use! 😲 It's truly amazing that such an old technology remains relevant in the age of digital innovation.
Франц
Although I don't often come across magnetic tapes, it makes sense for data backup and archiving. 💾 Their reliability and durability make them an ideal solution for such purposes.
Марко
Yes, and magnetic tapes are more environmentally friendly compared to hard drives and SSDs. 🌱 This is another plus for using them, especially given the growing focus on sustainability.
Грег
Well, it's not that simple. Magnetic tapes are great for long-term storage, but their performance leaves much to be desired. 🐌 Don't forget about the costs of maintaining these storage systems.
Збышек
Oh yeah, these tape trends are really fun. 😂 What's the point of using such outdated technology these days? It's much better to invest in modern storage solutions.
Марко
Zbyszek, you shouldn’t be such a skeptic. 🧐 Magnetic tapes have their advantages and are still in demand in certain areas such as enterprise data centers and archiving.
Ольга
I agree with Marco. Technologies are developing, but this does not mean that old solutions automatically become useless. 💡 Sometimes they can be more economical and efficient for specific tasks.
Франц
You're all right. Magnetic tapes really have their niche, especially in the world of big data and artificial intelligence. 🤖 Their capacity and reliability make them a valuable choice for storing huge amounts of information.